By Bryn Palmer

Pountney is in relaxed mood ahead of Saturday's match

Northampton captain Budge Pountney has ruled out any prospect of returning to Scotland duty, despite admitting he misses international rugby.

Pountney will lead out the Saints alongside co-skipper John Leslie in Saturday's Powergen Cup final against Gloucester at Twickenham.

It will be the 29-year-old's first high-profile game since he controversially quit the Scotland camp in the build-up to their Six Nations campaign.

He initially suggested he needed a break from the international game, but now insists he would not consider any return for October's World Cup campaign.

"I watched all the Six Nations games on TV and there were regrets because I was not playing," he told this website.

"I thoroughly missed it and thought 'that would have been good fun to play in'. But that was the decision I made and I will live with it now. That is final.

"I always said to myself you make a decision and you stick to it, otherwise it makes a bit of a mockery of what you do."

I have panicked quite a lot over the last few weeks Budge Pountney

Pountney admits it has been no more than "a nice change" to have spent his recent weekends not playing rugby.

Indeed, he fears the lack of recent big-match practice could affect his performance in Saturday's Cup final.

"I have had a few weeks off now so I am gagging to play," he added. "I am rested but I have been worried that I am not going to be on the pace.

"Having not played in the Six Nations I do feel I am not going to be up to scratch in terms of pace and preparing myself mentally.

Pountney insists he will never wear the Scotland jersey again

"I have panicked quite a lot over the last few weeks about that and the coaches have tried to put a few things in place for me."

Northampton follow their Twickenham date against Zurich Premiership leaders Gloucester with a Heineken Cup quarter-final at tournament favourites Toulouse next Saturday.

"It's a big week in anyone's terms," Pountney admits. "It is going to take all the power of this squad to get this right."

Pountney will be a key figure in a fierce back-row battle.

He and fellow ex-internationals Mark Connors and Andrew Blowers will aim to nullify Gloucester's emerging English talents James Forrester and Andy Hazell.

As far as Saints coach Wayne Smith is concerned though, Pountney is the perfect man for the job.

"I haven't seen a better number seven in Europe," Smith told this website. "He's a real warrior and the bravest man you will ever meet. Budge is our leader on the pitch."